Redcliff water project back on track

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

REDCLIFF Town Council’s water treatment plant construction is now back on track after the local authority engaged the services of a new contractor.

The local authority, last year, abandoned the project after a fallout between the local authority and Drawcard, the company contracted to carry out the construction work. 

Feasibility studies also revealed that Cactus Dam, the perceived water source, would not have enough water supplies sufficient for the town, home to a number of heavy industries leaving the town stranded as it seeks to end perennial water shortages.

The project which received $5 million boost from Africa Development Bank last year, has however, kick-started after the local authority engaged the services of Pump System Africa.

In an interview, Redcliff Mayor Councillor Clayton Masiyatsva said the project was back on track after the local authority engaged the services of the new contractor, Pump Systems Africa to carry out the job.

“We are looking forward to restart the job on our water treatment plant very soon. We disengaged the services of Drawcard after we failed to agree on certain terms that affected us a great deal. But now that we have engaged the services of a new contractor, we are looking forward to have the project back on track,” said Cllr Masiyatsva.

In terms of water sources, the local authority will either get raw water  from Kwekwe before treating it or look for an alternative source within Redcliff.

“We have two options, either we get raw water from Kwekwe and we use our own chemicals before distributing or we look for an alternative source. 

“We are still in talks with our counterparts in Kwekwe and feasibility studies are also underway to see if we can get an alternative water source within Redcliff,” he said.

The cash strapped town has been facing perennial water shortages after folding of operations by Ziscosteel which treated and supplied water to the residents. The town is battling to offset a $3 million debt owed to Kwekwe City for water supplies.